Conservative lawmakers in Lithuania’s parliament have proposed suspending new applications for temporary residence permits from citizens of Russia and Belarus, while also tightening rules for Belarusians who travel back to their home country or Russia.
The proposal, announced Monday, was submitted by lawmakers Laurynas Kasčiūnas, Arvydas Anušauskas, Audronius Ažubalis, Arvydas Pocius and Valdas Rakutis, all members of the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) group.
The amendment has been registered as part of changes to the Law on Restrictive Measures currently under consideration in the parliament, Seimas. The legislation, drafted by Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to extend existing restrictions on Russian and Belarusian citizens for another year.
Under the proposal, Lithuania would suspend accepting new temporary residency applications from Belarusian citizens, a measure already applied to Russians, while allowing humanitarian exceptions. Belarusians who already hold temporary residence permits would still be able to renew them.
The amendment would also revoke permits for Belarusian citizens who have travelled to Belarus or Russia more than once within a three-month period. Exceptions would apply to international cargo or passenger transport crew members and in cases where travel occurred for reasons beyond the individual’s control. A similar rule was introduced for Russian citizens last year.
Kasčiūnas, the leader of the TS-LKD and former defence minister, argued that stronger measures are needed, saying technical amendments alone would not be enough.
The lawmakers claim that around 70% of Belarusians arriving in Lithuania are “economic migrants”, while political refugees and members of the democratic opposition continue to receive protection. Data cited in the proposal indicate that 38,000 Belarusians holding temporary residence permits returned to Belarus in December 2023.
“In Belarus, these people have families, friends and relatives and they return during major holidays,” the statement said. “However, they can be recruited there and asked to perform certain intelligence functions,” it added, noting that Belarusian intelligence services monitor the diaspora in Lithuania.
Kasčiūnas also criticised the government for not applying restrictions to Belarusian citizens as strictly as to Russians.
“The Belarusian regime today is not a neutral state but an active accomplice in Russian aggression,” he said. “Belarus supports Russia’s war against Ukraine, allows its territory to be used for military operations and participates in hostile hybrid activities against Lithuania.”
Separately, the Foreign Ministry’s draft amendments also propose limiting the amount of fuel that can be brought into Lithuania in truck tanks from Russia and Belarus to 200 litres, in order to prevent potential circumvention of European Union sanctions and the resale of fuel in Lithuania.
The Seimas last week began considering extending restrictions on citizens of Russia and Belarus until 2028. The current measures, introduced in 2023 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, are set to expire on May 2.
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
